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The email quoted below contains a report on creation of a new Mars Society Chapter in Costa Rica.
This document arrived by email today! It is chock full of reports on activities of the Mars Society, chapters and initiatives. Much of the focus is upon activities for young people. The Houston Chapter is featured, showing their recent collaboration with the North Houston NSS chapter in hosting science fair winners. This forum has been following the North Houston chapter for several years.
Red Planet Pulse Newsletter (May 2026)
New Mars Forums Mailer
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Fri, May 1 at 6:04 PMRed Planet Pulse logo
May 2026Powered by chapters. Driven by members. Focused on Mars.
Editor’s Note
Greetings, Martian explorers!Spring is bringing new excitement to the global Mars Society community. From youth STEM initiatives to Mars analog research and field studies, there’s plenty to share!
In this edition:
● Isaacman emphasized the current Moon-to-Mars groundwork in NASA planning.● Mars Society 2026 International Convention announced
● Poster design for convention announced.
● International youth chapter engages young people around the world to explore the scientific, ethical, and humanitarian dimensions of Mars exploration.
● Costa Rica Chapter announcement
● Challenges, competitions, Mars novels, and more!
● Recent developments in Mars exploration news
Isaacman Emphasized the Current Moon-to-Mars Groundwork in NASA Planning
At the 2026 Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Jared Isaacman, NASA’s 15th Administrator and aerospace leader, outlined a clear and pragmatic vision for humanity’s path to Mars. While much of his address focused on near-term lunar efforts, his message was unmistakable: Mars remains the ultimate destination, but getting there requires disciplined execution today.
Isaacman emphasized that current missions under the Artemis program are not detours, but essential stepping stones. The Moon serves as a proving ground where technologies, operations, and human systems can be tested and refined before committing to the far greater challenges of Mars. From resource utilization to sustained human presence, these efforts are laying the groundwork for deep-space exploration.
Isaacman stated, regarding the moon, “It’s the perfect proving ground to master what comes next.”
A central theme of his remarks was the need to accelerate the pace of space operations. Isaacman highlighted the importance of increasing launch frequency—from timelines measured in years to those measured in months—while expanding collaboration between government and commercial partners. This shift toward a more industrial, repeatable approach to spaceflight is critical for enabling the scale required for a Mars mission. He referred to these high-frequency lunar missions as, “Where we will master the skills necessary for when the day comes that NASA astronauts embark on a journey to plant the stars and stripes on Mars.”
Although Mars was not the immediate focus of current programs, it was clearly positioned as the strategic north star. Technologies such as advanced propulsion, long-duration life support, and deep-space mission architectures are all being developed with Mars in mind. In this framework, each Artemis mission represents incremental progress toward a much larger objective.
By Jennifer Jones | On-site coverage, Space Symposium — April 13, 2026, Colorado Springs
Save the Date - 2026 Mars Society International Convention
Get ready for the 29th Annual International Mars Society Convention — the place to be for anyone excited about the future of Mars exploration. Join scientists, engineers, aerospace executives, space journalists, and space advocates from around the world for a few days packed with talks, panels, and big ideas about getting humans to the Red Planet.
This year’s convention will take place October 22-24 on the University of Southern California (USC) campus in Los Angeles, bringing the conversation right to the heart of the Mars community. Whether you’re presenting research or just curious about what’s next for space exploration, there’s something here for you.
Online registration is now open, so be sure to grab your spot. And if you’ve got research, ideas, or projects to share, don’t forget to submit an abstract and be a leader in the conversation!
Finally, please stay tuned via the organization’s social media platforms for regular updates about the 2026 convention, including speaker and panel announcements. We hope to see you at USC this fall!
Poster Design Competition for 2026 Mars Society Convention
In addition to all the fun, learning, and advocating planned for the upcoming International Mars Society Convention in October, the organization is excited to announce its annual poster design contest—and we’re calling on creative minds around the world to take part.
If you have a passion for graphic design and a love for Mars and space exploration, this is your opportunity to help shape the visual identity of our biggest event of the year.
Chapter Highlights & Local Activities
Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) Chapter Launches a New Generation of Mars Advocates
The Mars Society is excited to spotlight one of its newest and most innovative chapters: the Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP) Chapter, led by Michael Wang. Emerging from an organization already dedicated to empowering young people through global collaboration, storytelling, and research, the GYP Chapter represents a unique and forward-thinking approach to Mars advocacy. With active participation spanning Boston, Canada, and China, the chapter reflects a truly international foundation from its inception. Rather than viewing Mars exploration as separate from challenges on Earth, GYP sees it as a natural extension of its mission—connecting questions of sustainability, cooperation, and the future of humanity across both worlds.
What sets the GYP Chapter apart is its focus on youth engagement through creativity and global dialogue. In its first year, the chapter is launching its flagship initiative, “Voices for Mars: Global Youth Roundtable,” an online event designed to bring together young people from around the world to explore the scientific, ethical, and humanitarian dimensions of Mars exploration. Early collaboration with international Mars Society chapters—including Costa Rica, and China—demonstrates the global reach and momentum already building behind this effort. Notably, the collaboration extends beyond events: the Costa Rica Chapter Leader has joined the GYP advisory board, further strengthening international ties and shared leadership. Alongside this, GYP is developing a series of short, engaging educational videos aimed at making Mars exploration more accessible and inspiring to younger audiences.
Looking ahead, the GYP Chapter envisions building a vibrant, interconnected global network of future Mars leaders—connecting students, researchers, and advocates through mentorship, collaborative projects, and cross-cultural partnerships. Their approach emphasizes not only participation, but leadership—empowering young people to actively shape the future of space exploration. At the same time, the chapter brings a valuable perspective to the Mars Society by highlighting the humanitarian implications of Mars exploration, including how technologies and international cooperation in space can benefit life on Earth.
As the GYP Chapter officially launches with its online celebration on April 4, it stands as a powerful example of how the next generation is stepping forward to carry the mission onward. By blending science, storytelling, and global citizenship, this chapter is helping to expand both the reach and the meaning of Mars exploration.
Houston Chapter & SEFH Winners
The Houston Chapter teamed with the North Houston Chapter of the National Space Society as a Special Awarding Agency at the Science and Engineering Fair Houston (SEFH) on February 14th. Covering 23 counties and 1,200 students in grades 8–12, judges from the Mars Society selected several standout projects.
Winners will present at upcoming chapter meetings and receive Dr. Robert Zubrin–autographed books, along with other awards.
Mars Society ambassadors and members are encouraged to share local events, mentor young participants, and support chapter expansion globally.
Houston Mars Society Chapter Facebook page — Visit now!
Costa Rica Chapter Ignites a New Space Frontier
The Mars Society is proud to highlight the launch of the Mars Society Chapter of Costa Rica (MSCR), led by Chapter President Manfred Xirinachs—a bold and inspiring effort to help build a space industry from the ground up. Led by a passionate vision to create opportunities where few previously existed, the chapter emerges from years of grassroots work, including the founding of the Red PlaNet aerospace organization and the development of the Summit Tower microgravity facility.
These efforts culminated in international collaboration through an analog astronaut mission at Habitat Marte in Brazil, where the global reach and impact of the Mars Society became clear—and the motivation to bring that opportunity back to Costa Rica took shape.
Now officially established, the Costa Rica Chapter is already moving forward with ambitious plans to connect local talent with global space initiatives. Early efforts include organizing hands-on engineering competitions, hosting public exhibitions to showcase space technology, and building pathways to help candidates prepare for international analog missions.
With a focus on training and empowering a new generation of contributors, the chapter aims to demonstrate that meaningful participation in space exploration is possible from anywhere in the world. Their vision aligns powerfully with the Mars Society mission: to build the infrastructure, talent, and momentum today that will carry humanity to Mars tomorrow.
Chapter Growth Strategy: Leveraging LinkedIn for Outreach
Mars Society Director of Chapters Ron Storie is encouraging Chapter Leaders to use LinkedIn as a powerful outreach tool for recruitment and engagement. Over the past six months, he has built more than 3,000 connections—reporting greater success in forming meaningful relationships than with other platforms. These efforts have helped launch a new chapter in Costa Rica, which is relying almost completely on LinkedIn, and are supporting growth in the Dominican Republic and the University of New Mexico.
LinkedIn enables Chapter Leaders to build targeted local networks by connecting with professionals interested in space, science, and education. It also provides tools to promote events, share content across platforms, and identify potential members and partners, making it an efficient and strategic way to expand chapter reach and impact.
Find a Chapter near you
Mars Challenges & Youth ProgramsFifth Annual International Mission to Mars Design Program
High school students ages 13–19 worldwide can apply to participate in a virtual human mission to Mars engineering design competition (June 8 – July 10, 2026) organized by the Mars Society and its education director Nicole Willett.Teams will address habitats, life support, power, mobility, scientific instruments, and crew operations, guided and lectured by NASA engineers, aerospace experts, and senior Mars Society mentors.
Application Deadline: May 15, 2026, 5:00 PM PST.
University Rover Challenge (URC 2026)
May 28–30, Mars Desert Research Station, Utah
The University Rover Challenge (URC) is the premier international robotics competition for university teams, held annually at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah. Student-built rovers are tested in realistic Mars-like conditions, performing tasks such as autonomous navigation, scientific sampling, and equipment operation.
The competition challenges participants to apply engineering, programming, and teamwork skills while simulating the complexities of human exploration on Mars. Led by director Kevin Sloan, URC provides an unparalleled hands-on experience, inspiring the next generation of space engineers and scientists.
Mars Food Challenge - Mars to Table
The Mars to Table Challenge allows multidisciplinary teams to design integrated, Earth-independent food systems for long-duration human missions. This competition emphasizes closed-loop sustainability, crew nutrition, and terrestrial applications.
Teams are developing systems through September 2026, with NASA prize money for U.S. participants and recognition for international teams. The entry registration deadline for the NASA Mars to Table Food Challenge is July 31, 2026, at 8:59 PM EDT.
Featured Content
Zubrin: Don’t Let the Moon Derail Mars
Mars Society President Dr. Robert Zubrin critiques Elon Musk’s apparent pivot toward the Moon, warning it could delay or derail humanity’s push to Mars. The op-ed emphasizes that while the Moon may seem easier to reach, it is far less suited for building a self-sustaining human presence than Mars.
Read more: https://www.marssociety.org/news/2026/0 … rin-op-ed/.
From Utah to Mars: Inside a Simulated Future of Human Exploration
A recent Harper’s Magazine feature article follows an analog astronaut experience at the Mars Society’s Mars Desert Research Station, where participants simulate missions in a Mars-like environment to prepare for future exploration. It blends humor and skepticism, portraying the program as part science, part experiment in human resilience—and part reflection of our enduring desire to reach Mars.
Read more: https://www.marssociety.org/news/2026/0 … e-on-mars/.
How a Visit to NASA Inspired a Novel (Red Planet Bound Blog)
Acclaimed sci-fi author Amie Kaufman describes how a visit to NASA helped spark the idea for a Mars-based novel, showing how real-world science can fuel imaginative storytelling. The blog also highlights the back-and-forth between fiction and science, where writers draw inspiration from space exploration while scientists themselves are often inspired by stories.
Read more: https://www.marssociety.org/news/2026/0 … -rpb-blog/.
Red Planet Live Update
Red Planet Live (RPL), hosted by our popular science communicator Ashton Zeth, is currently on a brief hiatus while Ashton is on maternity leave.
We’re excited for the show’s return and will provide more details soon through the Mars Society’s social platforms. In the meantime, explore the RPL archives and catch up on earlier podcast episodes on YouTube.
RPL is available across major platforms, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Mars Exploration News — Recent Highlights
Nuclear Spacecraft to Mars: NASA’s SR-1 Freedom Mission
NASA has announced an ambitious new step toward deep-space exploration with the planned launch of Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom, the first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, targeting Mars before the end of 2028. Designed to demonstrate advanced nuclear electric propulsion, the mission represents a major leap in enabling efficient, long-duration travel beyond the Moon.
When SR-1 Freedom reaches Mars, it will deploy the Skyfall payload—Ingenuity-class helicopters intended to continue exploring the Martian surface—marking a significant expansion of aerial exploration on the Red Planet. This mission not only advances propulsion technology but also lays the groundwork for sustained human and robotic exploration of Mars and beyond.
This announcement comes as NASA unveils initiatives to achieve America’s National Space Policy, which also includes going back to the moon, building a Moon Base, ensuring American presence in low Earth orbit, and advancing world-changing discoveries.
Read more: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa- … ce-policy/.
Underground Water on Mars Suggests Extended Habitability
NASA’s Curiosity rover has uncovered more than 20 complex organic compounds preserved in Martian rock dating back 3.5 billion years—including several types never before confirmed on Mars. These molecules, spanning carbon-, sulfur-, and nitrogen-based chemistry, demonstrate that ancient organic material can survive the planet’s harsh environment far longer than previously thought. While not evidence of life, the discovery significantly advances our understanding of Mars’ past habitability and brings scientists one step closer to answering one of humanity’s biggest questions: Was Mars ever alive?
Read more: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70656-0.
Perseverance AI Navigation Integration
NASA’s Perseverance rover has used AI planning to autonomously navigate terrain on Mars — a first for the mission — and continues exploring the ancient delta region of Jezero Crater, providing deeper insight into the planet’s watery past and environments that could have once supported life. The autonomous drive capability increases the rover’s science productivity by enabling safer, faster traversal with less human intervention.
Read more: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-2020 … e-on-mars/.
Blue Origin & NASA ESCAPADE
NASA and Rocket Lab’s ESCAPADE mission, launched atop a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket, sent twin satellites — “Blue” and “Gold” — toward Mars to study how the solar wind interacts with the planet’s weak magnetic field. This research will improve the understanding of atmospheric loss and space weather dynamics around Mars as the spacecraft prepares for Mars orbit insertion in 2027.
Read more: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/escapade/.
Proposed Budget Cuts Threaten Mars Science Efforts
A proposed White House budget for fiscal year 2027 has raised serious concerns about its impact on NASA’s Mars research efforts. The plan includes a nearly 47% reduction to NASA’s science programs and introduces a loosely defined “Mars Technology” funding line with minimal detail, raising questions about future priorities and transparency.
Critics also warn the proposal could strain international partnerships, including NASA’s role in supporting the European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover, while highlighting that high-quality science data from Mars remains heavily dependent on sustained public investment.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/economy … r-AA20O4Qs.
Become a Part of the Mars Society Movement
The Mars Society is the world’s largest and most influential space advocacy organization dedicated to the human exploration and settlement of Mars. If you are not currently a member, please consider joining. There has never been a more exciting time to be involved with the humans-to-Mars movement.JOIN TODAY
Through your support, we’re able to advance cutting-edge analog research, deliver meaningful outreach and education initiatives, and empower chapter activities worldwide. Every contribution helps sustain our work and brings us one step closer to making Mars exploration a reality.
DONATE today to support these programs and more!
Can’t Get Enough Mars? Neither Can We!
Check out other exciting stories and announcements on the Mars Society website. Have an interesting story or accomplishment to share? Send story suggestions to mstoltz@marssociety.org to be considered for publication.
Thank you for your support
of The Mars Society’s mission.
Together, we’re building the future of human exploration and settlement on Mars!The Future of Space
Exploration Starts Here.
LEARN MORECopyright (C) 2026 The Mars Society, Inc.. All rights reserved. You are receiving this you joined the Mars Society or gave us your email address.
Our mailing address is:
The Mars Society1100 Johnson Road, Suite 18257
Golden, CO 80402
If anyone is interested in seeing links or images that were included in the email, a practical way of delivery would be by email. I'll send a copy to NewMarsMember(at)Gmail.com so anyone can request a copy.
However, after review of this post line by line, I think there are enough links to cover most of the material in this document.
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Recruiting High Value members for NewMars.com/forums, in association with the Mars Society
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This post is reserved for an Index to posts that may be contributed by New Mars members.
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This post contains the transcript of a conversation with Gemini (or enhanced Google Search) ... I had asked for information about how to contact the new Costa Rica chapter. There doesn't appear to be anything set up yet, but Google did find Latin America contact addresses.
Please prepare the contact information you found in the email request section in the form of BBCode. Our forum is running software that can decode BBCode and display on computers world wide.Mars Society Chapter of Costa Rica (MSCR) Contact Information
Global Chapter Director: Nora Hovee - nhovee@marssociety.org
Mars Society Latin America:
David Mateus - davidmateus@marssociety.com
Atila Meszaros - atila@marssociety.com
General Inquiries: info@marssociety.org
Official Instagram: @marssociety.cr
Would you like me to draft a short introductory message to include with these contact details for your forum post?
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Last edited by tahanson43206 (Yesterday 18:51:43)
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